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Sophie Devine's innings ensured that NZ did not stutter in the chase
The 3rd and final ODI between New Zealand Women and England Women was held today at Seddon Park in Hamilton. After losing the first two games, New Zealand bounced back in style, securing a convincing 7-wicket victory.
England, who had been dominant throughout the series, opted to bat first. Their innings, however, got off to a shaky start with the early dismissal of Tammy Beaumont for just 3 runs. The top order struggled to find momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Amy Jones provided some much-needed stability, top-scoring with a well-compiled 50. However, the lack of partnerships restricted England's scoring rate. The New Zealand bowling attack shared the spoils effectively, with Jess Kerr (3-39) and Hannah Rowe (3-42) leading the way. Eventually, England were bowled out for a below-par total of 194 runs in 46.3 overs.
Devine's ton takes Kiwis home
Chasing a modest target, New Zealand's chase began horribly as they were reduced to 14-2. The experienced duo of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr then stabilized the ship. While Kerr fell for 31, Devine continued her aggressive batting display. She found a reliable partner in Maddy Green, who played a crucial supporting role with a gritty knock of 38. Devine, in particular, was in devastating form. She played some powerful strokes, finding the boundary with ease. Her unbeaten knock of 100 runs off just 93 balls took the game away from England. Her innings ensured a comfortable 7-wicket victory with 11 overs to spare.
This win serves as a consolation victory for New Zealand after suffering defeats in the first two games. It also highlighted their fighting spirit and ability to bounce back from adversity. Sophie Devine's match-winning century earned her the award for the Player of the Match and plenty of plaudits. A lot of credit though, has to go to New Zealand's bowling attack as they maintained consistent pressure throughout the England innings.
For England, the final ODI proved to be a disappointing end to an otherwise dominant series win. Their batting unit failed to capitalize on the opportunity to set a challenging total. While Amy Jones played a lone hand, the lack of partnerships proved costly. Their bowling attack, too, struggled to make inroads into the New Zealand batting lineup.